Indian Editor and Publisher Arrested for Criticism of Islam
(IsraelNN.com) The editor and publisher of an Indian newspaper have been arrested in Calcutta for "hurting the religious feelings" of Muslims.
Ravidra Kumar, editor of The Statesman, and the paper's publisher, Anand Sinha, were both arrested after police received complaints that the top English-language Indian daily reprinted an article from the February 5th edition of The British Independent.
The article, entitled "Why should I respect these oppressive religions?" discussed the diminishing of the right to criticize religion.
Journalist Johann Hari, noted for his secularist views, writes that "a coalition of Islamist tyrants, led by Saudi Arabia… issued an alternative Islamic Declaration of Human Rights. It insisted that you can only speak within 'the limits set by the Shariah [law]. It is not permitted to spread falsehood or disseminate that which involves encouraging abomination or forsaking the Islamic community.'"
He further writes that topics deemed "religious" are taboo for discussion at the United Nations.
"Roy Brown of the International Humanist and Ethical Union has tried to raise topics like the stoning of women accused of adultery, or child marriage. The Egyptian delegate stood up to announce discussion of Shariah "will not happen" and "Islam will not be crucified in this council" – and Brown was ordered to be silent. Of course, the first victims of locking down free speech about Islam with the imprimatur of the UN are ordinary Muslims," Hari writes.
The editor and publisher both appeared in court Wednesday, and were released on bail.
Muslim rioters have protested in front of The Statesman's offices since the article's publication. Police broke up the protests with clubs.
A few Muslims affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Scholars later filed a complaint, claiming that the publication "outraged their religious feelings," which is a violation of Indian law. In response to the Islamic outrage, Kumar has since apologized.
Although the British journalist is also less than kind in his writings about Israelis who espouse nationalistic ideologies, there have been no reports of demonstrations of Jewish outrage in response to his words.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5718039.ece
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